Auto key case



D. J. WULFING AUTO KEY CASE Aug. 30, 1927. 1,641,110

Filed June 3, 1925 I 31 101211101; Ilnrliel L1. Ldulfir afforncq Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEI. J'.- WULFING. on ST. PAUL, mINNEsozr-A. AssIoNoE TO THE MINNESOTA srEoIALrY COMPANY, on sat. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION or MINNESOTA.

AU'IO KEY CASE.

Application filed June 3, 1925. Serial No. 34,608.

My invention relates to an auto key case in which it is designed to provide a key case particularly adapted for holding an auto key or several keys in a small compact state so.

I that the keys are readily accessible and form a firm packa e when they are attached an the instrument oard of an automobile.

A feature of my invention resides in presenting a key case made of a small single piece of leather folded over and stitched at one end to form an inclosure at that end and to provide an open end opposite the stitching which is adapted to carry a snap catch so that the open end of the'case can be snapped and locked together to hold keys in the case.

It is also a feature of my invention to provide a snap catch for holding the keys having a shank a little longer than isordinarily provided for such snaps which forms a rod extending between the. sides of the key case when the snap catch is closed. on which the keys are pivotally carried. The shank is securely fastened to one side of the key case a'trthe open end thereof, and can be provided to carry a single washer or several washers to form spacers between the sides of the ke case. The spacers carried by the snap catc shank are only for the purpose of providing a snug fitting between the key and the key case, and to prevent too free connection, so that the key held in the case would rotate too freely on the back. It is desirable to have the key fit quite snugly in the case.-

An object of my invention residesin a key case adapted to holding-an auto key so that when the key is inserted in the instrument board, the key case will .project from the key rather than hang down against the instrument board and thus prevent scratching of the instrument board of the automobile.

This feature of holding the case extending straight out from the key when the key is in use is also uite an advantage as it'permits the usero the case toread1ly apprehend just the position of the key, so as to known how to insert the same into the lock of the instrument board, even in the dark. When the key is not desired for use it can be folded over into the key case where it is practically com letely gconcealed and pro tected by the si es of the case. The key-is boo pivotally held in knife-blade like position in inykey case, this is a feature of the invenion.

The simplicity of my key case is part of my invention as a case for a small number of keys which can be used for any purpose, making a desirable key case for a lady which can be readily carried in her purse or otherwise, and in providing a key case wherein the keys held therein can be so positioned that the user of the key case knows just. whether the key is right side up to be inserted into the lock for which it is designed.

These features together with other details of the construction will be more fully set forth in the following specifications and' claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speckey case as it would appear in use.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my key case.

Figure 4 is a plan view of my case showing the key folded into the same.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the died out formation of the body or leather part of my key case.

Figure 6 illustrates one of washers. V

Figure 7 illustrates the rivet head and shank of the snapcatch.

Figure 8 illustrates the button of the snap catch. I

In the drawings my key case A is formed of a single piece of leather 10 or other suit.- able material of a fleiible nature which forms the body of the key case. In the flat formation of the body of the key case A l the spacing leather 10 is died out in the formation illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Obviously this formation can be of a suitable nature but it is desirable to have .it so sha ed as to form a practically rectangular k like compartment when the body portion 10 is folded.-

The body portion 10 is divided into two equal half portions 11 and 12 which are attachcd to form the side walls of the key case A when the same is folded along the line 13. In folding the body 10 to form the sides 11 and 12, the key case A is formed with a key compartment B into which the keys are adapted to rest when they are not desired for use.

After the body portion 10 is folded along the line 13, the one end of the key case A is stitched at 14 so as to close the end ofthe case and the stitching forms means to hold the sides 11 and 1.2 against each other at the closed end of the key case.

At the other end of the key case, which constitutes the .open end so as to speak. I provide a snap catch Cwhich is formed with the rivet head 15. This rivet head 15 1s provided with a long shank 16 which carries the grooved locklng head 17. v

The drawings illustrate the rivet head 15 attached to the side 12 in Figure 3, while the side 11 of the case A carries the button or female portion 18 of the snap catch C. The shank 16 of the rivet head 15 may be of any suitable length so as to space the sides 11 and 12 apart at the free or open end of the key case A in a manner so that the shank 16 provides a pin for carrying the keys such as E ivotally supported by the sides 11 and 12 in a knife-blade like manner as illustrated in the drawings.

Where only one or two keys are used in the case A I refer to use a spacing washer such as 19 W1l(!h are formed of leather or other suitable material and which are comparatively thick, so as to form the desired spacing means between the key and the body or walls 11 and 12.

The keys E are placed on the shank 16 and the snap catch C is closed so as to lock the sides 11 and 12 together to hold the keys between the side so that they can be turned out as illustrated in Figure 2 for use, or folded back into the case between the side walls 11 and 12 as illustrated in Figure 4. The small neat compact formation of my key case is desirable for small number of keys and more particularly for an automobile key or keys so that the keys can be readily accessible, and when in use the key case A is adapted to project straight out from the key and form a handle engaging means as illustrated in Figure 1, where the key case A is used to indicate the key E inserted in an instrument board F of an automobile. The instrument board is only illustrated diagrammatically as this is of well known ordinary construction.

The simple inexpensive construction of my key case is a very important part of the invention as it permits me to make a small compact key case with a sin le piece of.

leather or other flexible material, which is eanne folded in book-leaf form to provide side walls between which the keys are held. The knife blade like hinging of the keys to the snap catch at the open end of the key case permits keys to be quickly inserted or detached from the case, and in -'this manner a very simple effective key case is provided.

It is important in my invention that the key case A be held to project outward from the keys held therein when the key is in use to form a gripping or handle means and to hold the key, particularly when it is used in connection with an auto instrument board with the key case extending straight out from the key, andto permit the distinguishing of the position of the key in the case, so that it can be readily inserted into the lock of the instrument board.

A reason why my key case is important, which is now so apparent, is that the general use of automobiles today and the necessity of locking the same to prevent thefts or disturbances when the owner is not in the auto, has established a demand for a key case of this nature. My key case fulfills this desire of the automobile owner in providing a key case of simple inexpensive construction which effectively covers the keys or key held therein, and keeps the automobile key separate from theother keys so that they are readlly accessible for use.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, and while I have illustrated a particular formation of myke case in the drawings, I desire to have it un erstood that these are onl illustrations and that the invention can e carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of'thefollowing claims. c

I claim: I 105 1. A key case for automobile keys including, a cover formed from a single iece of flexible material, said cover being fol ed centrally to provide side walls of a rectangular shape, stitching along one end ofsaid cover to close the end of said key case, and snap catch locking means attaching to the other end of said key. case. adapted to provide means for holding keys by said snap catch for the purposes specified.

2. A compact key case having small di mensions including a cover formed of a single piece of leather folded in a manner to provide a longitudinally extending key receiving compartment, means for entirely closing one endof said compartment, and means for detachably holding keys in the other end of said compartment, adapted to Q pivot in knife-blade like connection between the sides of said cover.

DANIEL J. WULFING; 

